Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-08
POOR NINA VAN ZANDT.
a VICTIM TO PSYCHOLOGICAL
INFLUENCES.
impressive Interview With Her - She
Has Been Wounded TO the Heart by
Vicious Curiosity-Whst She Thinks
of American Tastes.

A'Aho al
mo, sir" lisped the lady; "this is Mrs.
August Spies, who was formerly Miss
Van Zandt. Pray, who are your
The Herald correspondent made known
his identity.
In an instant Mrs. Spies assumed an air
OF chllling dignity.
81 have nothing to say to you, sir" she
exclaimed, nervously. 81 have nothing
to say TO any newspaper man."
"Why nOt"'
because | have given my deliberate
promise to remain absolutely silent in
the presence OF reporters or correspond
ents." And the pretty woman closed her
bps in way that showed she meant to
keep her pledge.
40 whom have you given this prom
lsey' was asked.
Il shall not tell you that" she answered
GecisiVely, NOR anything else"
The corresp Ondent suggested that Mrs.
spies was prejudIced; that her conduct
was impulsive and without a due regard
to the particular circumstances OF the
case. He begged the lady to take few
minutes for consideration before giving
her final reply.
A QUEER AND UNCANNY SCENE.
She certainly was a picturesque crea-
ture as she stood there giaring at ner WISH
WI - " oo queer eCSuG dlLOetbnCl Az
that little room away up on the top floor
No. l02 Madison street. A sign on the
door indicated that it was the workshop
OF Henry Spies, Manufacturing Jewel
/ ler.' 1t seems the most absurd business
in the world for an anarchist, that of
manufacturing costly biious and gew-
/ gaws for moneyed aristocrats.
| In one corner sat fat-faced apprentice
| filing away cOntentedly at a gold watch
HIS fAafnrna fairIU op1pd NJ
| good nature and unlimited indulgence IN
! Schweltzer kase, pumpernickie aud hof-
! orau beer. In the opposite corner stood
| Miss Van Zandts desk, from which she
| mad risen to receive the Herald's repre-
sentative. 1t was strewn with open let
| ters and the gory-bouud autobiographies
| OF August Spies, which the strange girl
| has just published. In the middle OF the
| room there glowed a coy stove with half
a dozen chairs ranged round it., sug-
cestiYe OF lounging guests and ready well
come.
HER CURIOSITY EXCITED.
Somehow, it seemed easier to look at
all these things than a the pretty woman
with her half melancholy, halt defiant
eyes and sympathetic face. One began
to wonder, but 1t was Miss Van Zandt
who interrupted the possible reverie.
"You are from the New York Herald? ?"
she asked.
Eyes; and the Herald has sought to
treat you with all the consideration due
your sex and circumstances"
81 believe that is true" she answered
promptly. SIN fact, l have been told by
some of my friends that the Herald is
quite respectable paper, as papers CO."
! Then she glanced timorOusly al the clock,
then at the door. "But l hate them all"
she went on in manner of impressive
intensity: "Think how they have abused
me, how they have isrepresented me,
and how they have held me up to ridicule.
What right have they, before God or man,
to pry into the private affairs of two per-
sOusY Why should | not marry August
Spies if | wish to. Why should | not
marry him in any way that wish to-"
NINA's QUERIES UNANswERABLE.
The correspondent confessed his ina
bihtv to give a satisfactory reply to these
explanatory queries, but ventured to in
form Miss Van /sndt that when she
threw her fortunes with such notorious
persons as the Chicago Anarchists she
became a character OF public interest.
Ii this was designed to touch the Wo-
mans vanity it certainly failed OF the
purpose. "Granting that, even,' she
resumed, "have not persons of public In
terest the right Of Ity III their private
affairs? My marriage TO August Spies
concerns no one but myself and" she
added after pause that was almost a
sob-"and him."
you do regard yourself, then, as the
wife of Sples?
HER POOR OPINION OF AMERICAN TASTE.
beyond doubt, sir, though your ques-
ton is hardly polite. sui l do not blame
you. do not blame the papers. They
merely give the American people the ma
terial they want 10 read. Ii is the people.
the American people, that | blame for
this. 1t is their vulgar taste that demands
this exposure Of what ought to be sacred,
and isn't. 1t is a pretty commentary on
t1eir bOasted culture and civilization.
They do not realize what misery their
vicious curiosity brings into the world.
| myself neye~ realized what a wicked
thing it is to NEEDLE in the personal affairs
of other people, but it has come straight
home to me now, and il mas taught me a
goodly lesson"
HER CONTROLLING INFLUENCES.
The speakers manner had gradually
changed. The cold stolidity with which
she mad expressed her determination to
maintain complete silence melted away
in the heat OF her words and the fire OF
her temper. 1t seemed a relief to give
uttersnce to her passionate hatred OF the
world in general and tbs American people
IN particular.
print what say Of them!" she cried
in voice tremulous with tears. "Tell
him how they have wounded a woman's
heart; tell them"- A click OF the
door knob. The girl listened, and ceased
speaking.
In her soft liquid eyes sprang the pitt
full looks OF the afirighted fawn when it
comes before the lantern Of the night
hunter upon the bank OF a forest lake.
The door opened aud some one sidled
ina SLEEK. suaky looking man, with car
roty hair and face Ike mealy potatoes.
He crswled noiselessly up to tue stove.
Nina glanced at him, and seemed 10 obey
some sign, almost Involuntary. she
acted as one possessed. such an awfullv
i'm -ressive transformation must b. seen.
IL cannot be described. Ii was as II she
had suddenly lost her identity, as il her
very soul had LETT her. The mysuc skill
OF the mesmeTist could not have worked
a greater change. Not a word did sne
utter. she no longer seemed 10 know of
the existence before her OF hated news
paper man.
GIRL TO BIZ PTTIED. NOT BLAMED.
Ii was a relief 20 get away from the
! uncanny scene, TO get out once more into
| the fresh air aud Gods sunshine, AID see
| common. every day PEOPLE, with their
! common senses about them; not that Nina
! Van Zandt is a crazy woman. but she mas
| been isrepresented. n. J. a girl OF